As soon as I write a post about what a happy baby Claire is, we experience our first temper tantrum (if one can call it that) and an all-around difficult day.

In the past week Claire has napped less and less well. I read the blog of someone who is months ahead along a path I have a hunch I may be following (at least in regard to naps). She’s also very attached to me. When Daddy wanted to hold her so I could get a shower, she got very very angry. It was so clear how angry she was as she cried. I could see the future toddler temper in her. She cried for 15-20 minutes while Husband held her and tried to soothe her. She cried herself into a kind of heaving sobbing sigh, the kind one can’t control.

She only napped 30 minutes prior to this. It’s clear she needs to nap. He tried to put her down for a nap. She fell asleep in his arms only to wake as soon as her body touched the mattress. She napped maybe 20 minutes in three hours; the rest of this was crying, drowsing, waking and then crying again.

As soon as she saw me she wanted me again. I’m happy to hold her. I love her. Yet her Daddy loves her too. And sometimes I need to be somewhere else.

We finally gave up. She ate. She cooed and smiled at us. She clearly holds no grudges. She just wants what she wants, dammit. We went to Babies R Us to buy a play yard (the Super Yard XT). She was cheerful, though she looked exhausted. (It was 87 degrees today too, terribly hot.) She charmed people as usual though, smiling and babbling whenever someone greeted her. She had 30-minute nap in her car seat on the way home and nothing more. Then we played, ate dinner, played more, gave her a bath, and put her to bed at 8 p.m. She’s been sleeping about 10.5 hours at night. She surely needs more than 11.5 hours a day of sleep. Doesn’t she? She rubs her eyes and gets whiney.

All we can do is provide the opportunity to sleep. However, given what we experienced today, it’s clear this child has a strong, strong will and does not like change. I’m going to have to get a spine. I’ve a feeling she’s going to be a tough teacher.